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Pittsburgh man who 'escaped' from hospital caught

The Associated Press

Updated:
03/17/2014 09:30:12 AM EDT

PITTSBURGH—Transit police have arrested a man who allegedly assaulted an officer and possessed drugs then left a Pittsburgh hospital where he was taken after complaining of an injury following a police chase.

Port Authority of Allegheny County spokesman Jim Ritchie says there was a "misunderstanding" as to whether 52-year-old Roger Cunningham escaped from UPMC Mercy hospital Thursday night.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center officials say they aren't responsible or empowered to detain prisoners, who remain the responsibility of police. Ritchie says Cunningham won't be charged with leaving the hospital, but still faces charges that he possessed heroin and attacked an officer who had stopped a vehicle in which Cunningham was a passenger earlier that day.

Police found and arrested Cunningham in Millvale late Sunday. He faces a preliminary hearing March 26.